Politics

• Tuesday, September 28th 2010 - 01:52 UTC

  Brazil main daily blasts Lula da Silva; supports opposition presidential candidate

  

  One of Brazil’s leading and influential newspapers, O Estado de Sao Paulo announced its support for opposition presidential candidate Jose Serra for the coming Sunday election and described current president Lula da Silva as a “bad example” for Brazilian politics.

• Monday, September 27th 2010 - 17:47 UTC

  Hague announces review of policy towards Overseas Territories

  

  UK Foreign Secretary William Hague announced a review of the overall approach of the coalition government towards the Overseas Territories and stated that contrary to France the UK does not regard OT as part of the home state nor has plans for such a move, reports Panorama.

• Monday, September 27th 2010 - 15:10 UTC

  Last airworthy Falklands ‘veteran’ Vulcan bomber running out of funds

  

  The last airworthy Cold War British Vulcan bomber, and 1982 Falklands conflict veteran, could have made its final public flight on Sunday unless its owners can raise £400,000 by the end of October.

• Monday, September 27th 2010 - 14:57 UTC

  Prince William “determined” to be posted in Falkland, says London press

  

  Britain's Prince William is apparently battling to serve in the Falkland Islands with his Royal Air Force (RAF) search and rescue squadron. The pilot Prince is determined to fly alongside colleagues when they are sent to the UK outpost within the next two years.

• Monday, September 27th 2010 - 14:48 UTC

  Chavez looses two thirds majority in Congress, but remains leading figure

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suffered a serious setback last Sunday when he lost his two-thirds majority in the National Assembly reflecting increasing disenchantment with the charismatic leader and his administration’s failures and pose a great challenge for his 2012 re-election aspirations.

• Saturday, September 25th 2010 - 05:17 UTC

  Mercosur meets in Brazil ahead of trade negotiation round with the EU

  

  Next Wednesday Mercosur country members are scheduled to meet in Brazil to coordinate for the coming round of Mercosur/European Union trade negotiations that will be taking place in Brussels, October 11 to 15.

• Saturday, September 25th 2010 - 05:06 UTC

  Uruguay raises basic rate; gives priority to inflation target

  

  Uruguay’s central bank raised on Friday its overnight lending rate to 6.5% from 6.25% as inflation expectations are above the target range of 4% to 6%. The decision took the market by surprise since exporters have been asking for a stronger US dollar, but the Economy ministry said “it did not visualize a loss of competitiveness”.

• Saturday, September 25th 2010 - 04:57 UTC

  Chilean government cornered by Day 75 of Mapuche hunger strike

  

  There is no resolution in sight for the Chilean indigenous Mapuche hunger strike. On Day 75, the health of the 34 prisoners is in danger. Eight have been hospitalized, with one needing surgery for appendicitis.

• Friday, September 24th 2010 - 23:40 UTC

  Cristina blasts UK and UN Security Council for lack of progress in Falklands/Malvinas

  

  Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner criticized the British government for continuing to ignore Argentina's request for sovereignty talks over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

• Friday, September 24th 2010 - 07:07 UTC

  Venezuela’s Communes: Not as Radical as You Might Think

  by COHA Research Associate Geoff LeGrand - Under President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela has been no stranger to controversy. However, one of Chávez’s proposals has evoked particularly strong emotions – the establishment of socialist communes (comunas socialistas) throughout the country. The proposed commune law (ley orgánica de las comunas) would further expand and institutionalize Venezuela’s system of communal councils – local municipal governing bodies that are ruled by neighborhood leaders using state funds to finance social projects in their communities.